Crans-Montana Fire: First Victims Identified and Bodies Returned to Their Families - SnowBrains

"The first victims of the devastating New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, have now been formally identified and returned to their families. The fire had broken out at 1:30 a.m. on January 1 in a basement bar full of young guests in the ski resort village, killing 40 people and injuring 119. Identification of the victims has been slow as it requires extensive forensic analysis, relying in many cases on DNA analysis and dental record matches."

"The Valais/Wallis cantonal police confirmed that, following this intensive identification efforts, the bodies of four victims have been handed over to their relatives. The victims that have been identified are two young Swiss women aged 16 and 21, and two young Swiss men aged 16 and 18. Hospitals have stated that the majority of victims are between 16-26 years of age."

"The identifications were made possible through extensive work carried out over the past several hours by the Valais/Wallis cantonal police, Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) specialists, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Authorities described the process as meticulous and demanding, reflecting both the scale of the tragedy and the care required to ensure absolute certainty. With these procedures completed, the four families have been able to begin the process of mourning and laying their loved ones to rest."

Forty people were killed and 119 injured when a fire broke out at 1:30 a.m. on January 1 in the basement Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. Identification of victims has been slow due to extensive forensic work, including DNA and dental record analysis. Valais/Wallis cantonal police, Disaster Victim Identification specialists, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine conducted meticulous identification efforts. Four bodies — two Swiss women aged 16 and 21 and two Swiss men aged 16 and 18 — have been released to relatives, allowing those families to begin mourning. Investigations and identification procedures remain ongoing and intensive.

Read at SnowBrains